[en] The load limits of particulate filters must be determined experimentally in order to estimate the safety margins before failure in the event of faults. The present paper reports on extensive tests exposing filters to high air velocities at ambient temperature and low relative humidity. Well over 100 loading test have shown that the particulate filters currently available on the market fail in dry air at differential pressures between 4.3 and 23 kPa. The lowest values were measured with high-temperature metal-frame filters. An analysis of the damage processes has shown that there are essentially 4 types of failure. Stress models have been developed for the 2 main types, i.e. transverse bending and ballooning of folds. (author)